once more the nobility which accompanied his august house into exile. We,
however, preceded His Majesty, more happy than many of our companions.
Believing further resistance to be useless; dazzled, perhaps, by the
brilliancy of that genius which restored order, submitted Europe, and
governed France; M. de Florac, in the first days, was reconciled to the
Conqueror of Marengo and Austerlitz, and held a position in his Imperial
Court. This submission, at first attributed to infidelity, has
subsequently been pardoned to my husband. His sufferings during the
Hundred Days made to pardon his adhesion to him who was Emperor. My
husband is now an old man. He was of the disastrous campaign of Moscow,
as one of the chamberlains of Napoleon. Withdrawn from the world, he
gives his time to his feeble health--to his family--to Heaven.

"I have not forgotten a time before those days, when, according to
promises given by my father, I became the wife of M. de Florac. Sometimes
I have heard of your career. One of my parents, M. de F., who took
service in the English India, has entertained me of you; he informed me
how yet a young man you won laurels at Argom and Bhartpour; how you
escaped to death at Laswari. I have followed them, sir, on the map. I
have taken part in your victories and your glory. Ah! I am not so cold,
but my heart has trembled for your dangers; not so aged, but I remember
the young man who learned from the pupil of Frederick the first rudiments
of war. Your great heart, your love of truth, your courage were your own.
None had to teach you those qualities, of which a good God had endowed
you, My good father is dead since many years. He, too, was permitted to
see France before to die.

"I have read in the English journals not only that you are married, but
that you have a son. Permit me to send to your wife, to your child, these
accompanying tokens of an old friendship. I have seen that Mistress